OKLAHOMA CITY—Mykah Smith delivered a game-winning two-run homer to give the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels a dramatic 8-6 victory over the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Lady Eagles in the second game of a twinbill today (Feb. 11) at Jack Allen Field. The win gave the Lady Evangels a split, as the Lady Eagles took the opening game in a pitcher's duel, 1-0.
The Lady Evangels were down 6-4 heading to the bottom of the seventh when singles by Carly Castenada, Carson Osborne and Rachel Manning loaded the bases.
MACU then tied the score on a wild pitch that plated pinch runner Mariah Treat and Osborne.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Caitlin Swain had to pitch around a runner on second and no outs in the eighth. She did just that by inducing a two-out groundout with runners on second and third.
That set the stage for Smith's dramatic two-run shot to lead off the bottom of the frame.
Castenada and Cassidy Hart each had three hits in four at-bats for the Lady Evangels in the nightcap, with Castenada also driving in a run. Tiffany Holt also drove in a pair of runs with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth. Larissa Tate had a hit and scored twice for the Lady Evangels.
Swain pitched the final three innings for the Lady Evangels, allowing one run to get the win. Morgan Wardlow started for MACU and lasted five innings with three runs allowed.
Jayci Wang went 2-of-4 with two RBI for the Lady Eagles in the second game.
Macie Crites pitched well in the opener for the Lady Evangels, only giving up an unearned run with five strikeouts and no walks in her seven innings on the hill.
But the only tally the Lady Eagles needed came as a result of two errors in the fourth inning.
The Lady Evangels' best chance to break through from that point came in the fifth inning when Marki Dethloff and Osborne led off the inning with singles, but a pop-out double play ended the threat.
Jenna Daniel was also solid on the mound for the Lady Eagles in the first game. Similar to Crites, Daniel also pitched seven innings and struck out five with no runs allowed.
Dethloff had two hits in three at-bats for the Lady Evangels in the opener.
The Lady Evangels will next host Kansas Wesleyan University Saturday (Feb. 13) at noon.
